Vehicle wheel



G. P. THOMAS VEHICLE WHEEL June 2, 1925 Filed March 23, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 2, 1925;

Filed March 23. 1922 G.P.THOMAS VEHICLE WHEEL wnwzsszs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //V VE/VTOR Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES GEORGE P. 'rHoMAs, or GLENSHAW, iENNSYIiVANIA.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

Application mama 23, 1922. Serial no. 545,958.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Glenshaw, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, havelinvented a new and useful Improvement in Vehicle Wheels, of which the followingis a specification.

The invention relates tovehicle wheels of the type in which the felloe is movable with relation to the hub to lessen or absorb impact shockdue to irregularities in the roadway. r

The object of the invention, broadly stated, is to provide a simple and practical wheel of the character describedcapable of effectively resisting lateral strains or thrusts and of resisting the movements of the felloe to positions eccentric to the hub. V I A more specific object is to provide 'a wheel in which the movements'of the felloe to positions eccentric to the hub are resisted by friction which is increasedby such movements. l Another object is to provide a wheel in which the sole connectionbetw'een the hub and felloe is a friction diskclutch capable of effectively resisting movements of the felloe to positions eccentrieto the hub. Another object is to provide a wheel of the disk type in which the disk or web between the hub and felloe is formed by the plates of a disk clutch. i i

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which Fig. '1 is a side view of the wheel with the grease-retaining housing removed and the felloe and rim shown in section; Fig. 2 a central trans verse sectional view of the wheel to enlarged scale, the plane of view being indi-' cated by the line II-II,'Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a side view of the felloe and parts directly connected to it, the felloe'and' rim being shown in section; Fig;4 a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification of construction; andFig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification of construction.

In the practice of the invention the hub and felloe of a wheel are connected to each other by a friction disk clutch, one element of which are also capable of moving a-ngularly with relatlon to each other. Means are provided,

preferably in the form of wedging members,

to resist movements of the felloe to positions eccentric to the hub, such resistance being gradually increased in proportion to the 'eccentric movement of the felloe.

The hub and felloe of the wheel may be variously constructed'for diflerent typesof axles and tires, and either of the clutch members may be attached to the hub or felloe. In the illustrative embodiment of'the invention thereis shown ahub 1 of a standard type adapted to bev mounted upon an automobile axle. Attached to the hub and extending radially therefrom there is a disk 2 which forms one of the elements of a friction clutch for connecting the hub to the'fel loe. Theother element of theclutch comprises a pair of annular plates 3 which frictionally bear one upon each side of disk 2. Tothe peripheral portions of plates 3 there is attached by means of bolts 4 a felloe 5 capable of receiving a dem'ountable rim 6.

For urging plates 3 to their normal positions concentric with disk 2 and with the hub, the inner edges of plates 3 are prefer erably provided with wedge faces which may take the form of substantially V -sha'ped ribs 7 These ribs project outwardly, and

embracing them there is a pair ofcollar'sS and 8 provided with grooves of the same configuration as the ribs. The collars 8 and 8 are provided, respectively, with flanges 9 and 9 mounted for lateral or axial sliding movements upon hub 1, and are urged toward each other and into'engagement with ribs 7 by means of a plurality of springs10 acting through bolts 11in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. l

For lubricating the sliding parts of the wheel, such parts are preferably closed within a grease retaininghousing. As illustrated in Fig. 2 such housing may comprise two parts 12 andc12 rigidly attached at their inner edges to hub 1 and having yielding strips 13 and 13 attached to their outer edges and bearing against the outer faces of plates 3; When the parts are assembled the housing is supplied with grease'whichjlubricates all the sliding parts of the wheel.

As particularly illustrated'in Fig. 3, ribs 7 of plates 3 may be provided with radial slots 14 which interrupt the continuity of the ribs so that they and plates 3 maybe more readily pressed into frictional engagement with disk 2. If desired the slots in ribs T may-be continued to the outer edges of theplates, thus dividing the plates into a series-of segmental plates 3?, as illustrated in 4. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. a plurality of disks is attached to the hub and the number of plates the same as thatfshown in FlgS. '1 :and 2;

The disks; 15 form one-element and the plates or disks l6 andl'? the other element of-a multiple disk clutch which functions in the manner already explained with -refer ence to thejwheel of Figs. 1 and'QL. The multiple disk clutchmay "be used for the driving wheels of heavytrucks vand in other places Where the load sustainedby and the powerapp'lied to the wheel is large;

$111 adaptinguthe invention'to a-wheel for a particular purpose, the inclination ottlie wedge faces for-med on ribs; 7 Qand the strength and initial compression placed upon the springs- 10 are so proportioned :th at nor-- mally the fello'e will 'be held concentric with the hub. 'VVhen an impact causes the felloe to move to a position eccentric to the hub, such movement is resisted by ,;the friction between disk 2 and plates 3, andthis friction is increased by the action of the, spring-inn pelledcollars 8 and 8% The greater the ec-.

centric. movement of the felloe,-the greater is the resistance offered. The wedgingfaces formed by ribs -7 are constructed to bear upon collars 8 and S thmugh'out their-entire annular extent. In other words-the inner wedging faces, that-isto sa y those: adjacent to the hub, resist the impact on ones-ide'of the Wheel and "the outer wiedging-facessimultaneously resist it on the other side.- In this Way eccentric pressure on collars 8 and 8 is avoided and the resistance to E eccentric movements of: the hub increased. .e

Because the plates forming the elements of the friction clutchoverlap each-other throughout a considerable extent of widths, the wheelefilectively resists-lateral strains frequentlyencountered .sautomobile Wheels; In appearance andin" convenience in cleaning,-the wheel has all the, advantages of the well known disk-type oai"wlieels-,.-and in addition thereto is capable ofrabsorbing impact shocks. When brakes are set on a M1 2 the en ire whee will not skid with the resulting excessive-wear upon the tire, but on the other :hand the relics will was angular-1y with relation-to hub, such movement being resisted by the friction clutch.

According to the provisions of the patent statute, I have described the principle and operation of my invention together with the preferred structural embodiment thereof.

elements to concentric position and increasing the friction between them when they are moved to eccentric positions, the elements of. said clutch being capable of unlimited relative angular movement resisted by said spring-impelled members; A

2. A vehicle'wheel, comprising a hub, a felloe, a friction-diskclutch having one ele-- ment connected to the hub and the other to. the felloe and forming thesole comiection between the hub and the "felloe, the clutch elements. being normally concentric with relation to-each other andthe hubybut rela tively movable to eccentricpositions under impact, and spring-impelled wedgingmem-v bers urging the clutch 'elements toward each other-and to concentric'position and increasing thexfriction' between them when they are moved to eccentric positions, the elements of said'clutch being capable ofunlimited rela tive angular movement resisted by said spring-impelled members. 3. ,A vehicle wheel, I comprising a hub having a radially disposed disk attached to it, a felloe', annular plates normally concentric with said hubhaving their peripheries attached to the felloe and frictionally engaging the sides :of said disk, and spring impelled wedging members urging said plates toward each other and-to concentric position and increasing-the friction between them and said disk when the plates are moved to eccentric positions, said disk and plates being capable of unlimited relative angularmovement resisted by said springimpelled members.

- -4; 'A vehicle wheel, comprising a hub havingr'a radially-disposed disk attached to it; a 'felloe, annular plates normally concentric with said hub. havingtheir peripheries attached to-the felloe and friction'ally en-' gaging the sides ofsaid disk, said plates being'" provided withv wedge'faces- 'o'bliqueto the general plane thereonoollars having cooperating Wedge faces 'bearingragainst the faces of said plates; and -'s'prings acting through said collars to urge'saidplates to-' ward their normal concentric position and to press said plates into frictional engagement with said disk, said disk and plates being capable of unlimited relative angular movement resisted by said springs acting through said collars.

5. A vehicle wheel, comprising a hub having a radially-disposed disk attached to it, a felloe, annular plates normally concentric with said hub having their peripheries attached to the felloe and frictionally engaging the sides of said disk, said plates being provided on their outer faces and adjacent to their inner edges with substantially V- shaped ribs, collars having grooves to receive said ribs, and springs acting to urge said plates toward their normal concentric position and to press said plates into fricv tional engagement with said disk, said disk and plates being capable of unlimited rela- 20 tive angular movement resisted by said springs acting through said collars.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

v GEORGE P. THOMAS. Witness: I

EDWIN O. JOHNS. 

